Michael Hudson is a Marine Corps Officer who served as a Force Recon Platoon Commander during operations in Iraq. He dedicated over 20 years to the Corps, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel after multiple combat deployments, including several tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. I had the distinct honor of serving under Mike in 2006, when he commanded Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines (3/3). This episode marks exactly 20 years since that intense deployment to the Haditha Triad area in Al Anbar Province during Operation Iraqi Freedom. In the conversation, we dive into his remarkable career—from his early baptism by fire in combat to the profound challenges of leadership in war. We discuss the heavy toll of losing Marines under his command and the enduring burdens that veterans carry long after the deployments end.